The Republican journal., 1887-11-24
Maine Matters.
NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.
THE LOBSTER FISHERY,

just completed a careful study and inyestiga-
ton of the lobster fishery and the effect of the
law. and makes the following report: The lob
ster fishery is an industry that has grown up in
! the past thirty years. Said a fisherman. ''When
first went into the business in 1858 there were
but six smacks. running Holsters in Maine
waters. four OF which We're from New London,
Conn. These smacks averaged about four men
each. Five men caught at that time twice the
amount of Holsters these five smacks could
carry.' From this small industry in 1850 it
has grown to such vast proportion that it now
employs nearly POGO boats. 40 sail of vessels,
and gives employment to over 1000 fishermen,
and the transportation Snacks in Maine waters
employ more than 100 men in freghting or
transporting Holsters caught in Maine waters.
This industry distributes in various ways among
the fishermen of Maine Il gross sum of more
than $500, 900 annually.
The business of lobster catching in general
requires two men to boat, with 200 traps. ut Il
cost of about $500 for the entire outfit. The
greater part OF the fishing is carried on in small
boats within Il short distance CT the fishcrmcn'S
homes. In winter a small number of vessels
are employed in deep sea fishing. They com
plain that the Government protects every in
,lustry in the country but theirs, and there is
some truth IN it. The Province law gives the
catchers uf Holsters on that coast the right to
catch and sell; and Our Government permits
their vessels and steamers to land in this coun-
try at that time of the year when it will work
of Holsters. free of duty. thus Cutting the
market. Now, our fishermen demand for one
thing that they shall he projected at this sea
son of the year from this great influx Of lob
ster> from the Provinces. In what way can
you hc protectod:' was asked an entcrprising
fisherman. of i had my way" he said Il
would place a duty of not less than 50 cents
per 100 pounds on every lobster imported from
the Provinces. This would give about one
cent each on every lobster brought here"
Another rect drawback TO this industry the
fishermen claim SIS the unnecessary and i'm
practicable legislation on the lobster fishery
HAT our own state has made from time to time
for the purpose of The better protection Of the
lobster The fishermen all claim that they
should have as little law as possible III their
business. They say Let the lobster alone and
nature vii! govern the supply
An intelligent and experienced fisherman
said, III answer to the question is 10 whether
there was danger of killing the Holsters off if
free fishing wa> allowed: 40. l. it possible 10
gather up all the nu>seIS on the shores: In my
mind it is just as Impossible 10 kill out the lob
>ters. i.obsjers must have room in which to
crow. They can become overpopuiatcd like
all things. They must have hidlig places in
Which - she'd the;r shells and spawn. They
seek shelter beneath rocks. Seawee,l. etc. and
from these hiding places it is impossible to
catch them any way. Each female lobster is
capable of producing 10000 eggs, so think it
is very plain lIat Tie increase OF Holsters will
be sufficient TO supply the wants OF The People,
if they are regulated ly the demands of the
trade. thinr. certain parts of orr present lob
Ser law do more harm than good. For cN-
ample. that part OF cur law which prohibits
persons and corporations from canning between
july | aud April / of each wear. Now this
work, great injustice to our fishermen in this
wise: After the 18th OF September our fisher
men catch such great quantities that they in
very little while oNcrstGck the markets. Then
they begin to till their cars and wait for de-
ml,ld in the markets. and thousands of Holsters
die i'll these cars every day along our coast.
The other day smack came along and sold
them the Holsters in my ear. and out of more
than 900 | found alive only 100. Now this is
the experience OF hundreds Of our fishermen"
The Commissioner says that there seems to
he Il General demand that the factories be open
c'!aS in the past.
TIE q. \. L.
The Grand Army organization OF Maine is IN
ti0urishing condition. The last quarterly re-
port showed a membership in the State Of y,
:,,23 and ll9 posts, with net gain daring tilc
quarter OF 10 members. The policy OF the
present management is to discourage any
mushroom growth which would appear from
the organizing cf Il large number OF posts.
Thus there has been but one post instituted
daring the year. that at Orono, and there is
prospect Of another at Wi~casset. The State
Encanpment will opcn in Park Garden. Port
land. on Feb. 9th. \ camp fire Will be held at
City HALL the evening of Tic 10th. A successor
will be chosen to Commander Dick Galley. and
among those mentioned for the place are III. ii.
Burbank, Of ,uco, and L. NJ. Drew Of Lewis
ton. ConnanIer-in-Ch thief John /. tea, Of
Minneapolis, will be invited to attend the Feb
ruary meeting. 1t Is probable the action of the
National E,tcamrment in regard 10 pensions
will be inAor>e.
!! DRAMATIC EVENT.
The rcappearaEce of the Hon. John l.. Stcy-
ems as political editor of the kenneivc journal
is Il dramatic event. MIR. Stevens WAS the di-
rect heir OF the carly traditions OF the journal
under Luther Severance. who made it beyond
question HE leading representative of the Wing
party in Maine Mr.. Severance retired in 1880
and Mr.. Stevens succeeded hiin after Il brief in
terva. nti 1917. he was associated with
Mr.. Blaine in the management of the paper,
and the friendship resulting from this a>>oca-
ton has continued to the present day. In l>GS.
after nearly twenty years Of constant labor,
Mr.. Stevens abandoned Journalism and entered
the diplomatic service of tie United States.
lie returned a few wears ago to Augusta, where
he has lived at ease until now he has been per-
sua'ied to take up the pen again, i'll behalf of
his early friend.
RUM IN MAINE.
Y newspaper reporter who visited Ports
mouth. \. H., and looked over the list of per-
sons in Maine paving the United States liquor
tax reports that there are G.l3 names. OF that
number u are located ut Bar iarbor, ia ut
Portland. 10 at IIouiton, 10 at Brunswick, 10
at Ellsworth, 10 at Augusta, IL at Gardiner,
10 at WaterVie. II at Rockand, 12l ut Ban
gor 10 at Oldtown, % at Bath 10 at Skowhc-
gan, IL at Belfast, Is at Bitldeford and ~ ut
Lewiston. The remaining Isl are scattered all
over the State. OF the ~ names at Lewiston,
nearly all are fictitious. The proportion of
liquor dealers to the population Of the State is
to every 1900 inhabitants.
IN GENERAL.
The &. A. K. of Pennington dedicated their
new hall en- Nov. II.
Lieut.. Phillips of the State College at Orono
will pass the winter in Auburn, n. y.
Deer, caribou and other large game are plenty
i'll the Dead River and Rangeley sections.
Frank a. Hart, q prominent LAWYER and
editor of the Monson Stale, die1on Thursday
morning.
The Belcler will case is finally settled, the
contestants having decided TO proceed 10 fur